Basin Rec specifies what funding will be used for

$25 million bond will be on November ballot

David Burger, The Park Record

Posted:
08/26/2014 04:26:57 PM MDT

The Summit County Council has approved the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District's request to place a $25 million bond on the November ballot, and last week the district released a specific list of projects that would be completed should voters approve the ballot measure.

Rena Jordan, district director, said the bond will be used for the acquisition of open space, expanding recreation facilities, and maintenance and development of trails. Of the $25 million, $15 million will be used for open space, $2 million for trails, $5.5 million for a Fieldhouse expansion, and $2.5 million for a potential expansion of the Park City Ice Arena.

There are six proposed trail projects, according to the district's website:

S.R. 224 pedestrian crossing, which would provide a crossing for children attending Parley's Park Elementary School.

Silver Springs to Redstone, which would continue the paved trail that runs along the east side of S.R. 224 from Park City Market to Bear Hollow Drive and connect to Kimball Junction.

Lower Village Road to St. Mary's Church, which would connect the paved trail that runs by St. Mary's Church to the new trail along Lower Village Road in the Canyons. It is one of the last gaps in the Millennium Trail.

U.S. 40 underpass to Rail Trail and Silver Creek Village, which would provide continuous trail connections from the Silver Creek neighborhood into Park City.

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Toll Canyon and Hi Ute Trail Development, which would provide better public access to the Toll Canyon open space, parking for trail users and trail development.

S.R. 248/Rail Trail pedestrian crossing, which would allow for safe use along with more access for disabled users from the National Ability Center.

"All of these projects are on our trails master plan," Jordan said.

Funding of $2.5 million would be used for a potential expansion of the Park City Ice Arena, with the money earmarked for a second sheet of ice.

The Fieldhouse would receive $5.5 million to expand, with the money to be used for a multi-purpose gymnasium as well as expanded parking. The facility would be used for basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, indoor lacrosse, floor hockey, martial arts, cheerleading, day camps, sports camps, and other activities. "This final phase is important because demand and use is so high," Jordan said.

The Basin Open Space Advistory Committee has worked to identify potential open space acquisitions, with $15 million allocated for that purpose. Open space is always a priority for the district, Jordan said, because of the opportunities it provides for recreation.

The document included a paragraph about the addition of an aquatic facility. "Although the District is NOT prepared to move this project forward through the funding in this bond, there is a commitment to continue to explore opportunities to partner with others to get this facility built in the future," it said. "Partnership will be necessary to complete this project due to the higher costs associated with such as project."

If the bond is approved by voters in the district, an annual property tax increase will be required for 21 years in the estimated annual amount of $125 on a $652,000 residence and in the estimated amount of $227 on a business property or vacation home of the same value as the residence, according to a staff report proposed by the district.

The district's most recent bond election was in 2010 when 72 percent of voters approved a $20 million open space and trails bond. Basin Recreation used $12 million for open space preservation, while $8 million was used on trail development projects, including trails at Kimball Junction, Highland Drive and Rasmussen Road.

Summit County Council Chair Chris Robinson said he hopes voters "approve it overwhelmingly." As a bicycle enthusiast who uses the trails almost every day, he counted the contributions made by Basin Recreation as among the County Council's greatest accomplishments.